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Grigor Khaghbakian (died in 1220–1223) was a Prince of the Armenian Khaghbakian family in the province of
File:Khachqar near Etchmiadzin Cathedral 1233.jpg, Khachqar of Grigor Khaghbakian, near Etchmiadzin Cathedral (1233).
File:Աղջոց_վանք_02.jpg, Surp Stepanos church at Aghjots Vank (1217).
File:Khatchkar cross of Grigor Khaghbakian, 1233, Etchmiadzin, Armenia (detail).jpg, Christ detail on the Khachqar of Grigor Khaghbakian (1233).
Grigor Khaghbakian (died in 1220–1223) was a Prince of the Armenian Khaghbakian family in the province of Zakarid Armenia
Zakarid Armenia () alternatively known as the Zakarid Period, describes a historical period in the Middle Ages during which the Armenian vassals of the Kingdom of Georgia were ruled by the Zakarid-Mkhargrzeli dynasty. The city of Ani was the cap ...
, Kingdom of Georgia
The Kingdom of Georgia (), also known as the Georgian Empire, was a Middle Ages, medieval Eurasian monarchy that was founded in Anno Domini, AD. It reached Georgian Golden Age, its Golden Age of political and economic strength during the reign ...
. Together with his wife Zaz, he built the Surp Stepanos church at Aghjots Vank in 1217.
Grigor Khaghbakian is also known for a 1233 khatchkar with a sacred image, now in Etchmiadzin Cathedral
Etchmiadzin Cathedral is the Mother church#Church as a building, mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church, located in the city Dual naming, dually known as Etchmiadzin (Ejmiatsin) and Vagharshapat, Armenia. It is #Oldest cathedral, usuall ...
, where it was brought from Imirzek.
The 13th century Armenian historian Kirakos Gandzaketsi
Kirakos Gandzaketsi (; c. 1200/1202–1271) was an Armenian historian of the 13th century S. Peter Cowe. Kirakos Ganjakec'i or Arewelc'i // Christian-Muslim Relations. A Bibliographical History / Edited by David Thomas & Alex Mallet. — BRILL, 2 ...
reports that some time after a 1220 Mongol incursion under Subutai
Subutai (c. 1175–1248) was a Mongol general and the primary military strategist of Genghis Khan and Ögedei Khan. He ultimately directed more than 20 campaigns, during which he conquered more territory than any other commander in history a ...
, the Kipchaks
The Kipchaks, also spelled Qipchaqs, known as Polovtsians (''Polovtsy'') in Russian annals, were Turkic nomads and then a confederation that existed in the Middle Ages inhabiting parts of the Eurasian Steppe.
First mentioned in the eighth cent ...
came to the Armenian city of Gandzak between 1220 and 1223, where they encountered the troops of King Lasha
Lasha, meaning ''fissure'' is a place apparently east of the Dead Sea
The Dead Sea (; or ; ), also known by #Names, other names, is a landlocked salt lake bordered by Jordan to the east, the Israeli-occupied West Bank to the west and Israel ...
of Georgia and his ''atabeg
Atabeg, Atabek, or Atabey is a hereditary title of nobility of Turkic language, Turkic origin, indicating a governor of a nation or province who was subordinate to a monarch and charged with raising the crown prince. The first instance of the ti ...
'' Ivane. Although the Georgians ultimately prevailed, Grigor Khaghbakian was captured and tortured to death by the Kipchak Turks
The Kipchaks, also spelled Qipchaqs, known as Polovtsians (''Polovtsy'') in Russian annals, were Turkic nomads and then a confederation that existed in the Middle Ages inhabiting parts of the Eurasian Steppe.
First mentioned in the eighth cent ...
:
Grigor Khaghbakian was son of Haghbak, brother of Vasak Khaghbakian, and uncle of Prosh Khaghbakian, founder of the Proshyan dynasty.
The '' Khachqar'' cross dedicated by Grigor Khaghbakian in 1233, now located near Etchmiadzin Cathedral
Etchmiadzin Cathedral is the Mother church#Church as a building, mother church of the Armenian Apostolic Church, located in the city Dual naming, dually known as Etchmiadzin (Ejmiatsin) and Vagharshapat, Armenia. It is #Oldest cathedral, usuall ...
, is considered as one of the finest, with its detailed and refined openwork sculpture. A fine Deesis
In Byzantine art, and in later Eastern Orthodox iconography generally, the Deësis or Deisis (, ; , "prayer" or "supplication") is a traditional iconic representation of Christ in Majesty or Christ Pantocrator: enthroned, carrying a book, and ...
decorated the entablature, and the donator appears on horse at the bottom, a rare occurrence as such crosses are not often decorated with human depictions.
References
{{reflist Zakarids Armenian nobility 1220s deaths